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Paulo Costa offers to fight at UFC 288, challenges Jan Blachowicz to light heavyweight clash in May

Paulo Costa offers to fight Jan Blachowicz at light heavyweight at UFC 288 One-time middleweight title challenger, Paulo Costa has offered to return in just over two weeks’ time at UFC 288 in the opening week of May – in a light heavyweight return against former division champion, Jan Blachowicz. Costa, the current #5 ranked middleweight contender, has been sidelined since he featured on the main card of […]

One-time middleweight title challenger, Paulo Costa has offered to return in just over two weeks’ time at UFC 288 in the opening week of May – in a light heavyweight return against former division champion, Jan Blachowicz.

Costa, the current #5 ranked middleweight contender, has been sidelined since he featured on the main card of UFC 278 back in August of last year against former undisputed UFC and Strikeforce middleweight champion, Luke Rockhold.

Snapping a two-fight losing streak against both Israel Adesanya, and Marvin Vettori, Brazilian contender, Paulo Costa managed to land a unanimous decision triumph over Rockhold.

Penning terms on a new, multi-fight deal with the UFC last month, Costa – who was expected to fight former middleweight champion, Robert Whittaker at UFC 284 in February, saw a potential rebooked fight with the latter shot down recently.

Earlier this month, UFC 288 lost it’s scheduled lightweight co-main event between Charles Oliveira and Beneil Dariush, due to a minor injury on the Brazilian’s side – leading to Gilbert Burns offering to fight former interim lightweight champion, Dustin Poirier at the welterweight limit.

Paulo Costa offers to fight Jan Blachowicz on short notice at UFC 288

Furthermore, Belo Horizonte native, Costa has now offered to fight in May at UFC 288, issuing an open challenge to Polish veteran and former light heavyweight champion, Blachowicz.

“May 6. PPV event (UFC 288) is in trouble,” Paulo Costa tweeted. “Jan Blachowicz vs. Costa could be the salvation. I go up (to) 205 (pounds) on all juice. Let me know @ufc.”

As for Blachowicz, the former undisputed light heavyweight champion has been sidelined since his majority decision draw against Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 282 last December in the pair’s vacant championship fight.

Off the back of the above-mentioned, Adesanya’s middleweight title reclamation at UFC 287 earlier this month, Blachowicz offered to drop to the middleweight limit to fight his former-foe in a championship rematch.

Dustin Poirier open to Gilbert Burns fight at UFC 288: ‘I can make 170, money talks’

Dustin Poirier has stated that a UFC 288 bout with Gilbert Burns is very much on the table, should the financial prize be big enough to garner his attention. Poirier’s tweet was in response to Burns, who initially called out “The Diamond” on the platform. Burns has also exchanged verbiage with Belal Muhammad, and in theory, the […]

Dustin Poirier has stated that a UFC 288 bout with Gilbert Burns is very much on the table, should the financial prize be big enough to garner his attention.

Poirier’s tweet was in response to Burns, who initially called out “The Diamond” on the platform. Burns has also exchanged verbiage with Belal Muhammad, and in theory, the pair have agreed, outside of the UFC’s boardrooms, to co-main event UFC 288.

The co-main was initially slated to be Charles Oliveira taking on Beneil Dariush, but the bout was postponed due to an injury in the “Do Bronx” camp.

Burns though, and probably correctly, assumes that Dustin Poirier, even at 170lbs, is a bigger fight. Poirier’s response showed that he is willing, even if he is not at his optimum fitness levels for the time being.

Dustin Poirier to return at UFC 288?

“Respect Gilbert, I can make 170 no problem, I’m not really in fight shape but (money) talks.”

Dustin Poirier is yet to compete this year, having last bested Michael Chandler in November of 2022. Undefeated outside of title bouts since 2016, Poirier elevated his status in the sport with back-to-back stoppage victories over MMA megastar Conor McGregor. This puts Poirier in a position to be able to main event against just about anyone, let alone co-main event.

For Gilbert Burns, the Khamzat Chimaev loss can be seen as a partial victory for the Brazillian. Making the undefeated Chechen appear, human, was a task unto itself. After dominating company mainstay Neil Magny, and retiring Jorge Masvidal just a few cards back, this fight could be bigger than ever.

UFC 288 seems like a realistic spot for the welterweight warriors to go at it. Dana White stated that the card was in need of a new co-main event, and it is hard to see any bigger names than the Louisianna native and his ever-game counterpart stepping forward for an event so close.

What do you think of Dustin Poirier vs Gilbert Burns for the UFC 288 co-main event?

Gilbert Burns calls for UFC 288 co-Headliner with Dustin Poirier: ‘I think it would be an amazing fight’

In search of a quickfire Octagon return off the back of his UFC 287 victory over Jorge Masvidal earlier this month, welterweight contender, Gilbert Burns has called for a UFC 288 co-headliner on short-notice against former interim lightweight champion, Dustin Poirier. Burns, the current #5 ranked welterweight contender, most recently co-headlined UFC 287 in Miami, […]

Burns, the current #5 ranked welterweight contender, most recently co-headlined UFC 287 in Miami, Florida earlier this month, defeating Poirier’s training partner, Masvidal in a dominant unanimous decision victory.

The victory propelled Rio de Janeiro native, Burns back to the winner’s enclosure off the back of a close decision loss of his own against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 274 back in April of last year.

Over the course of the weekend, however, reports confirmed how a slated UFC 288 co-main event bout between former lightweight champion, Charles Oliveira, and Beneil Dariush had been shelved amid an injury to the Brazilian, leaving the pay-per-view main card short.

And following UFC Fight Night Kansas City, promotional president, Dana White confirmed how he planned to trash out a new co-main event for the Newark, New Jersey start today – with Gilbert Burns likely to feature in the conversation in the wake of links to a title-eliminator against Belal Muhammad.

Gilbert Burns calls for surprising fight with Dustin Poirier in May

However, in what appears to be faltering talks between Burns and the streaking, Muhammad – the Brazilian has offered former interim lightweight champion, Poirier a return to active competition on just over two weeks’ notice in ‘The Garden State‘.

“All do respect to @DustinPoirier I know you are a dog!” Gilbert Burns tweeted. “May 6 I suppose to fight Belal (Muhammad) for n1 contender! I just think me and you will be an amazing fight! Nothing but respect. #UFC288.”

Replying to one-time welterweight title challenger, Burns, Lafayette striker, Poirier claimed he could successfully make weight on short notice for a welterweight fight, however, admitted that he was in less than fighting shape – but maintained “money talks”.

“Respect, Gilbert (Burns),” Dustin Poirier tweeted. “I can make 170 (pounds) no problem. I’m not really in fight shape but (money bag emoji) talks.”

Yet to return to the Octagon since November of last year, Poirier most recently retained his status in the division’s top-3 with an eventual third round rear-naked choke submission win over Michael Chandler at Madison Square Garden.

Charles Oliveira explains withdrawal from UFC 288 return, targets June comeback against Beneil Dariush

Charles Oliveira says he pulled out of his upcoming fight with Beneil Dariush at UFC 288 due to an incident in training. The now injured Oliveira was seeking redemption following a disappointing display at UFC 280 which ended up with the belt in the hand of Islam Makhachev. A matchup between Charles Oliveira and Beneil […]

Charles Oliveira says he pulled out of his upcoming fight with Beneil Dariush at UFC 288 due to an incident in training.

The now injured Oliveira was seeking redemption following a disappointing display at UFC 280 which ended up with the belt in the hand of Islam Makhachev.

A matchup between Charles Oliveira and Beneil Dariush was very likely a deciding factor in who may be the next challenger for lightweight gold.

With a win over Oliveira, there would be no doubts remaining for Dariush as he would have extended his win streak to nine in a row.

Charles Oliveira targets June return from a minor injury

Dariush frustratingly spoke out on social media over his disappointment, and Charles Oliveira released statements of his own today in response to the situation.

“I wasn’t able to train, I got injured during wrestling practice,” Charles Oliveira said. “I tried to train, I tried to do everything I could but we couldn’t, so we pulled out of the fight. [Fighting at UFC 288] would be great because I would be fighting on the same night of two teammates.”

Dariush is eager to welcome Oliveira back on his feet and is willing to push the fight to UFC 289 in Vancouver, but it seems as though Oliveira is not prepared to give a final answer just yet.

“I have to stay [away from training] for a few days so I can go back to training soon, and then we’ll reschedule the fight,” Oliveira said. “I’ll be back to training pretty soon. That’s it, I had a small injury and decided to pull out so I wouldn’t fight injured. We’ve made that mistake once and I didn’t want to do it again. We’re taking one step back so we can take one, two, three steps forward soon.” (Transcribed by MMA Fighting)

With victories over multiple contenders at 155, Oliveira can be confident that if he was to step up and overcome Dariush, Makhachev will be awaiting the Brazilian for a second dance.

Previous to their bout in Abu Dhabi, Oliveira was riding a comfortable 11-fight win streak with an incredible 10 finishes and just one decision since 2014.

Report – Charles Oliveira out of UFC 288 co-Headliner with Beneil Dariush in May due to injury

According to reports tonight, former undisputed UFC lightweight champion, Charles Oliveira has been forced from his scheduled UFC 288 co-main event fight against the surging, Beneil Dariush on May 8. at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. As per an initial report from ESPN reporter, Carlos Contreras Legaspi, Brazilian contender, Charles Oliveira has been […]

As per an initial report from ESPN reporter, Carlos Contreras Legaspi, Brazilian contender, Charles Oliveira has been forced to withdraw from the potential lightweight title-eliminator against Iranian-born challenger, Dariush next month, due to an undisclosed injury. At the time of publication, the organization are planning on postponing the matchup between Oliveira, and Dariush.

Charles Oliveira forced from UFC 288 return

“Per sources, the scheduled lightweight fight between Charles Oliveira and Beneil Dariush for #UFC288 it’s (sic) being pushed due to an undisclosed injury on Oliveira’s side. The promotion is now working on a new date.”

Per sources: the scheduled lightweight fight between Charles Oliveira and Beneil Dariush for #UFC288 it's being pushed due to an undisclosed injury on Oliveira's side. The promotion is now working on a new date .

Via @ESPNDeportes https://t.co/M0j549OhGr

— Carlos Contreras Legaspi (@CCLegaspi) April 14, 2023

Sidelined since October of last year, Oliveira, 33, most recently headlined UFC 288 against Islam Makhachev in a vacant title fight – dropping a second round arm-triangle submission loss to the current division champion.

The defeat snapped Sao Paulo grappler, Oliveira’s division-best 12-fight winning run, which included a vacant title victory against Michael Chandler in 2021.

In December of that year, Oliveira managed to successfully defend his undisputed lightweight title for the first and only time, defeating former interim champion, Dustin Poirier with a third round standing rear-naked choke submission win.

The most prolific finisher and submission artist in Octagon antiquity, Oliveira had landed a first round rear-naked choke over another former interim champion, Justin Gaethje back in May of last year, after he dropped the title to the scales during fight week.

UFC 288 takes place on May 8. from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey – with an undisputed bantamweight title fight between current champion, Aljamain Sterling, and the returning former two-weight champion, Henry Cejudo set to headline the pay-per-view card.

Henry Cejudo betting favorite to clinch title from Aljamain Sterling at UFC 288 in May

Despite retiring from mixed martial arts over three years ago, former two-weight UFC champion, Henry Cejudo, has opened as a betting favorite to reclaim bantamweight gold next month against current champion, Aljamain Sterling at UFC 288. Cejudo, a former undisputed bantamweight and flyweight gold holder under the banner of the UFC, is booked to take […]

Cejudo, a former undisputed bantamweight and flyweight gold holder under the banner of the UFC, is booked to take main event honors at UFC 288 in the opening week of May in Newark, New Jersey – snapping a three-year-plus hiatus from active competition at the Prudential Center.

Last competing back in May 2020, Henry Cejudo, an Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling to boot, most recently knocked back former two-time bantamweight best, Dominick Cruz with a second round TKO at UFC 249.

And in the immediate aftermath of the victory, Henry Cejudo, who lofted both flyweight and bantamweight gold inside the Octagon in Jacksonville, Florida – confirmed his intentions to retire from mixed martial arts competition with immediate effect, relinquishing both championships in the weeks after his win.

However, booked to headline UFC 288 in a months’ time in New Jersey, former duel-weight champion, Henry Cejudo, who will ride a six-fight long run of victories in his comeback outing against Sterling – both opened and currently sits as a betting favorite over the Uniondale champion.

Currently, many markets – including those who accommodate you to bet on dota 2 with thunderpick, have listed Henry Cejudo as a narrow betting favorite (-120) to triumphantly return with a title win over champion, Sterling, who sits as a betting underdog (+100) at the time of publication.

Henry Cejudo’s first title victory came back in 2018

16-2 as a professional, Los Angeles native, Henry Cejudo’s first taste of Octagon gold came in the form of a stunning rematch win over inaugural flyweight champion, Demetrious Johnson in a summer 2018 re-run, defeating the decorated Kentucky native in a close, split decision victory.

Meeting common-foe, T.J. Dillashaw – who then laid claim to the undisputed bantamweight title in his first attempted defense of the flyweight crown on the promotion’s ESPN network debut, Henry Cejudo dispatched the Angels Camp veteran with a blistering 32-second knockout in 2019.

Winning the vacant bantamweight title back in June of that year, Henry Cejudo rallied to take out recent PFL feature, Marlon Moraes, stopping the Nova Friburgo striker with a series of ground strikes in round three after pressing the Brazilian with relentless wrestling.

In search of Octagon history next month, the defending bantamweight champion, Sterling will look to become the first division champion to defend his title successfully on three consecutive occasions.

Winning undisputed gold in debated fashion courtesy of an infamous disqualification victory over Dudinka native, Petr Yan back in March 2021, Sterling has since rematched the Russian in a title unification fight, defending and unifying the division belts.

In his most recent walk, Sterling managed to add to his dizzing winning run, notching consecutive victory number eight with a second round ground strikes win over an injury hampered Dillashaw on ‘Fight Island’ in Abu Dhabi, UAE in October of last year at UFC 280.

Charles Oliveira makes his Octagon return at UFC 288

Also appearing on the card in another rather high-profile pairing; UFC 280 headliner, Charles Oliveira makes his return for the first time since seeing his 12-fight division winning run halted by current lightweight titleholder, Islam Makhachev.

Attempting to kickstart another title siege, the former undisputed kingpin is tasked with hitting the brakes on the surging, Beneil Dariush’s own pursuit, with the duo taking co-main event honors in ‘The Garden State’.

Submitting to a second round arm-triangle in a vacant lightweight title fight against Makhachev back in October of last year, Oliveira had successfully defended the crown in a submission win over Dustin Poirier, before dropping the belt to the scales before submitting another former interim titleholder, Justin Gaethje, back in May of last year.

As for Dariush, the Iranian-born contender has embarked on an eight-fight winning run since a 2018 KO loss to Alexander Hernandez, most recently defeating Polish favorite, Mateusz Gamrot – also on that aforenoted UFC 280 flagship event last October.

And at the time of publication, the Sao Paulo native – a perennial underdog, continues in that vein at UFC 288, sitting as a narrow betting underdog (+106) to defeat the favorite (-126) Dariush on May 6. in Newark.

Winning vacant lightweight title spoils himself back in May 2021, Oliveira, the most prolific submission artist and outright finisher in the antiquity of the UFC, rallied from a poor opening round against Michael Chandler – stopping The Ultimate Fighter 31 opposing coach with a stunning second round KO in the opening exchanges of the frame.

Returning to the Octagon in December of that annum in his sole walk as a defending gold holder, Oliveira, in typical ‘Do Bronx’ fashion to boot – survived an adversity filled opening frame, eventually scaling the above-mentioned, Poirier’s back in the third round – latching onto a standing rear-naked choke victory.